Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Table of Contents Part I: The Fulbright Program .................................................................................................................................................. 3 1. Welcome ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4 2. The Fulbright Program .................................................................................................................................................... 5 3. Fulbright Program Administration and Funding ............................................................................................................. 5 Part II: Grant Provisions .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 1. Grant Benefits ............................................................................................................................................................... 10 2. Grant Payments ............................................................................................................................................................ 12 3. Additional Grants and Sources of Funds ....................................................................................................................... 14 4. Grant Dates and Terms and Conditions ........................................................................................................................ 15 5. Grant Changes (Extension, Renewal, Early Departure, Termination, Revocation) ....................................................... 15 Part III: Preparing for Your Grant .......................................................................................................................................... 17 1. Pre-Departure Timeline and Checklist .......................................................................................................................... 18 2. Medical Clearance and Health Information .................................................................................................................. 19 3. Grantee Health Care Benefit Program: The Accident and Sickness Program for Exchanges (ASPE) ............................ 20 4. Additional Health Coverage .......................................................................................................................................... 22 5. Additional Health Information ...................................................................................................................................... 22 6. Sources for Medical Information for Travel Abroad ..................................................................................................... 24 7. International Travel and Travel Documents ................................................................................................................. 24 8. Book Shipment and Diplomatic Pouch .......................................................................................................................... 26 9. Dependents ................................................................................................................................................................... 27 10. Planning to Arrive in the Host Country ....................................................................................................................... 28 Part IV: During Your Grant .................................................................................................................................................... 31 1. When You Arrive ........................................................................................................................................................... 32 2. Settling In ...................................................................................................................................................................... 32 3. Housing and Living Accommodations ........................................................................................................................... 32 4. Money and Banking ...................................................................................................................................................... 33 5. Safety and Security, Information and Resources .......................................................................................................... 34 6. Foreign Laws ................................................................................................................................................................. 36 7. Cars and Driving ............................................................................................................................................................ 37 8. Professional Enrichment Activities ............................................................................................................................... 37 Table of Contents Contents | 1 9. Community Involvement ............................................................................................................................................... 37 10. Travel Outside the Host Country ................................................................................................................................. 38 11. Grantee Interim and Final Reports ............................................................................................................................. 38 12. Tax Information for U.S. Fulbright Scholars ................................................................................................................ 39 13. Social Media, Press and Blogging Guidance ................................................................................................................ 39 Part V: Upon Completing Your Grant .................................................................................................................................... 41 1. Return Travel ................................................................................................................................................................. 42 2. Health Benefits After the Grant Period ......................................................................................................................... 42 3. Final Report and Fulbright Certificate ........................................................................................................................... 42 4. Publications Resulting from Grant ................................................................................................................................ 43 Part VI: As Alumni of a Fulbright Grant ................................................................................................................................. 44 1. Continuing Involvement ................................................................................................................................................ 45 2. Sharing your Fulbright Story ......................................................................................................................................... 46 3. Alumni Networking Opportunities ................................................................................................................................ 47 GLOSSARY .............................................................................................................................................................................. 48 Contents | 2 Part I: The Fulbright Program 1. Welcome 2. The Fulbright Program 3. Fulbright Program Administration and Funding Part I | 3 Part I: The Fulbright Program 1. Welcome The Fulbright Program aims to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby to increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship. —Senator J. William Fulbright Congratulations on your selection as a Fulbright Scholar! Welcome to a community of nearly 370,000 participants from around the world who have been chosen, not only for their academic and professional excellence, but also for their leadership potential to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) collaborates with the Institute of International Education’s Council for International Exchange of Scholars (IIE/CIES) to administer the Fulbright Program for U.S. faculty, administrators and professionals. The Guide for Fulbright U.S. Scholars and the IIE/CIES U.S. Grantee webpage (password: CIES_grantee!) will help you prepare for your grant and can serve as a reference guide during your stay abroad. We expect that you, as a Fulbright Scholar, have read and understood these guidelines. If the Guide does not answer your questions or you need further explanation prior to departure, contact the IIE/CIES program staff or the Fulbright agency in the host country of your Fulbright grant. The Guide will be helpful prior to your departure and while on your grant, so it is important that you periodically reference it. During your stay in your host country, your primary contact should be either the Fulbright commission or, for countries without a commission, the Public